This week’s #DeForestKelley Tuesday Teaser Question is…
What did #DeForestKelley direct his fan club president to do after Kris exited the vehicle to open a gate at Shambala?
The following excerpt is from DeForest Kelley Up Close and Personal, A Harvest of Memories from the Fan Who Knew Him Best, scheduled to debut January 8, 2016 at Amazon. Join the pre-launch fun at http://on.fb.me/1TJWDHp today and every day right up until the 8th!
THE KELLEYS MEET DEAKEN
After seven months of waiting for me to get Deaken off the hill and into their valley without success, the Kelleys could wait no more. Carolyn called and said she and De would like to take a drive up to Shambala and meet Deaken. She asked if Sue and I would drive them there. I said, “Certainly!”
She said, “Oh, good!” We decided on a day. Then Carolyn said, “So, we’ll see you here at the house at—oh, how about 9:30?”
I said, “Sure. You’ll have to give us directions.”
She was astonished by that. “You have our address!” she exclaimed.
“Yes, I know,” I said, “But neither of us has ever been by there.”
She said, “You’re joking!”
“No, I’m not.” She couldn’t believe that we hadn’t driven by to sneak a peek at their home.
I said, “We’re not voyeurs, Carolyn!”
“Oh!”
Excited and a bit rattled, Sue and I wondered which car to use. To us, my ten year old compact car didn’t seem adequate for the occasion, while Sue was concerned that her larger, classic beauty might not have the gumption to get up the mountain. Sue called Jackie Edwards and asked if we could use her new Hyundai for the occasion. Jackie was more than happy to oblige.
So, on the Big Day, Sue and I drove to the Kelley’s house. We had no sooner pulled up than De and Carolyn came out the door, grinning, looking like two kids on their way to a candy store!
…..
When we arrived at Shambala, we got out of the car and De noticed the back of my DeForest Kelley Hollywood Walk of Fame jacket, which I planned to wear at his star ceremony. This was his first opportunity to see it since I had received it from a fellow Kelley fan. De queried humorously, “Who’s that handsome fellow on your back?”
I said, “Oh, some guy…I forget his name.”
I directed everyone to remain very quiet outside Deaken’s enclosure while I went inside to greet him, so they could see how we responded to each other without his being aware there would soon be other people entering his domain. I stepped inside the cage and greeted him, leaving the cage door open. He was sitting high atop his 5’ tall den box, and when I hopped up to sit beside him, he greeted me with the customary mew and purrs and enthusiastic head rubs, then started watching the cage door, knowing that something was up. He continued to purr and head-rub, so I invited Carolyn in first. She was halfway in already: I thought that to delay her long-awaited meeting any longer might be detrimental to her health!
Carolyn came in, grinning ear to ear, and approached him. I told Deke, “This is Car’wyn, sweetness…the lady who sends you all those chin-tickles.” I’m sure Deaken didn’t understand a word, but he instinctively understood the love she was telegraphing to him and the fearlessness with which she approached him. He continued to purr as she came right up to him. He kissed her hand several times, and then rubbed his chin on the back of her fingers. She was in seventh heaven.
…
After the photo session in the straw pile, I put Deke away and said I’d take the gang on a trip through the compound. I directed Sue to drive to the first compound gate. “I’ll be the gatekeeper all the way through,” I told her. “Any time we come to a gate, I’ll jump out and open it.” Sue drove to the first gate and as soon as I opened it, she drove through and kept going! I called out, “Hey! Wait for me!” and ran after it and thumped on the trunk to get Sue to brake so I could get back into the car. I opened the back door to get in; De was grinning ear to ear.
End of excerpt.
